Rossini Opera Festival
The international opera festival dedicated to Gioachino Rossini, in his hometown
About ROF
A unique festival in the world
The Rossini Opera Festival (ROF) is the most important opera event entirely dedicated to Gioachino Rossini, the bel canto genius born in Pesaro in 1792. Founded in 1980 by the Municipality of Pesaro on a project by Gianfranco Mariotti, the festival was created to support the scientific work of the Rossini Foundation in the musicological, theatrical, and editorial recovery of the entire Rossini repertoire. Over the years, it has become an event of international renown, capable of attracting enthusiasts and scholars from all over the world to the Marche city every summer. It is no coincidence that in 2017, UNESCO recognized Pesaro as a Creative City of Music.
Venues: Scavolini Auditorium and Rossini Theatre
The festival takes place in two symbolic locations in the city. The Scavolini Auditorium, converted from the former sports hall and now a large space for the most imposing productions, hosts the major operas and closing concerts. The historic Rossini Theatre, in the heart of the city center, hosts chamber works, bel canto concerts, and productions by the Rossini Academy. These are complemented by events throughout the city, including partnerships with the National Rossini Museum.
The 47th edition (2026)
The 2026 edition, scheduled from August 11 to 23, offers 22 performances. The festival opens with a new production of Le Siège de Corinthe, conducted by Carlo Rizzi and directed by Davide Livermore, at the Scavolini Auditorium. Two historic productions return to the Rossini Theatre: L'occasione fa il ladro, directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle and revived by Sonja Frisell, and La scala di seta, in the celebrated staging by Damiano Michieletto. The program is completed by Il viaggio a Reims with the young artists of the Rossini Academy, bel canto concerts, lyric-symphonic concerts, and the closing performance of the Stabat Mater conducted by Domingo Hindoyan.
Bel canto, voices, and training
The ROF is also a great school: the "Alberto Zedda" Rossini Academy trains young singers every year who debut in the renowned production of Il viaggio a Reims. Some of the greatest contemporary Rossini interpreters, starting with Juan Diego Flórez, have established themselves on the Pesaro stage: the 2026 edition celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the Peruvian tenor's debut with the concert Flórez 30.
Pesaro and the Marche region
Experiencing the festival also means discovering Pesaro, an elegant Adriatic city in the Marche region, in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino, with its Rossini birthplace, its Art Nouveau seafront, and the hinterland of Montefeltro. The ROF is now part of the city's identity and contributes to making Pesaro a leading cultural destination on the world opera scene.
ROF — edition 2026
The 47th edition of the Rossini Opera Festival offers a program of 22 performances from August 11 to 23, 2026, held between the Scavolini Auditorium and the Rossini Theatre in Pesaro. Alongside the three main operas, the program includes the youth production of Il viaggio a Reims, bel canto concerts, lyric-symphonic concerts, and the traditional concluding Stabat Mater. The edition also celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of Juan Diego Flórez's debut in Pesaro with the concert Flórez 30.
Programme ROF 2026
Operas
- Le Siège de Corinthe (Scavolini Auditorium) — August 11, 14, 17, 21. Conductor Carlo Rizzi, director Davide Livermore. Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Coro del Teatro Ventidio Basso. With Adrian Sâmpetrean, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, Maxim Mironov, Matteo Roma, Simón Orfila.
- L'occasione fa il ladro (Rossini Theatre) — August 12, 15, 18, 20. Conductor Alessandro Bonato, director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle revived by Sonja Frisell. Orchestra Sinfonica G. Rossini. With Manuel Amati, Damiana Mizzi, Dave Monaco, Matteo Mancini, Martiniana Antonie, Giuseppe Toia.
- La scala di seta (Rossini Theatre) — August 13, 16, 19, 22. Conductor Iván López-Reynoso, director Damiano Michieletto (revival of the 2009 production). With Hasmik Torosyan, Alasdair Kent, Iurii Samoilov, Paolo Bordogna, Mara Gaudenzi, Enrico Iviglia.
- Il viaggio a Reims (Rossini Theatre) — August 16, 19. Young singers from the "Alberto Zedda" Rossini Academy, director Emilio Sagi revived by Matteo Anselmi.
Concerts
- Flórez 30 (Scavolini Auditorium) — August 18. Concert celebrating thirty years of Juan Diego Flórez at the ROF, conductor Guillermo García Calvo.
- Bel canto Concerts (Rossini Theatre) — August 14 (Matteo Mancini and Giuseppe Toia), August 17 (Dave Monaco), August 20 (Adrian Sâmpetrean), August 22 (Simón Orfila).
- Rossinimania (Rossini Theatre) — August 15, with Eugenio Della Chiara on guitar ("Rossini à Paris").
- Stabat Mater (Scavolini Auditorium) — August 23, closing concert. Conductor Domingo Hindoyan, with Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, Anna-Doris Capitelli, Dmitry Korchak, Adrian Sâmpetrean.
Highlights ROF 2026
Opening with the new production of Le Siège de Corinthe (Rizzi/Livermore), the return of the historic staging of Damiano Michieletto's La scala di seta, the special concert event Flórez 30 celebrating Juan Diego Flórez's thirtieth anniversary, and the closing Stabat Mater conducted by Domingo Hindoyan.
Prices ROF 2026
Practical information — ROF
Getting there
Pesaro is well-connected: the train station is on the Adriatic line Bologna-Ancona-Bari, with Frecce and Intercity trains. By car, it is accessible from the A14 (Pesaro-Urbino exit). The nearest airports are Rimini, Ancona-Falconara, and Bologna.
Venues
Performances are held at the Scavolini Auditorium (major operas and concerts) and the Rossini Theatre, in the historic center.
Tickets
Online sales on Vivaticket from April 15. Box office at the Rossini Theatre from July 20 (4:00 PM-6:30 PM) and, from August 1 to 23, daily from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM and 4:00 PM-6:30 PM. Reductions are available for under 14s and under 30s. Info: [email protected].
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Where does it take place — ROF
Auditorium Scavolini e Teatro Rossini
Via Rossini 24, 61121 Pesaro